Latch-needle for knitting-machines.



- R. W. SCOTT.

LATCH NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 8. 1909.

Patentd Nov. 2, 1909.

UNITED srarns PATENT onnion ROBERT W. SCOTT, 0F LEEDS POINT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF '10 LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS, OF OGONTZ, PENNSYLVANIA. I

LATCH-NEEDLE FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Application filed March 8, 1909. Serial No. 482,106.

To all urlmm it may mam-a;

'Be it known that l. ROBERT ll". Sco'r'r, a

citizen of the United States, residing in Leeds Point, Atlantic county, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Latch-Xeedles for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

as to prevent the loosening of the rivet whereby the latch is hung to the slotted shank of the needle and thereby prevent the cutting or tearing of the knitting yarn by the projecting 'end or ends of the rivet. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in Wl1IlCl1- Figure l is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of a latch needle constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line aa, Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views illustrating other embodiments of the invention.

1 represents the shank of the needle and 2 the ordinary latch which free to swing in a central slot 3 formed in the needle shank, the latch being pivoted to the needle by means of a rivet- -1 passing through openings in the walls of the slot and through an open ing atthe butt. end of the latch, the ends of this rivet being swaged or expanded so that it serves not only as a pivot for the latch, but also, under normal working conditions, to retain in place the walls of the slot. In the operation of the machine, however, lateral pressure is sometimes exerted upon the projecting portion of the latch, as by knots or enlargements upon the knitting yarn, which causes the walls of the slot to spread and thereby stretch or loosen the rivet, so that the latter projects at one or both ends beyond said walls when the latter assume their normal position and such projecting portion of the rivet has a cutting or tearing effect upon the knitting yarn.

The slot for the reception of the latch must extend completely through the shank of the needle in order to provide clearance for the particles of lint which enter the slot and which, in the absence of such clearance would accumulate in the slotand in time interfere with the proper operation of the latch. Or-

?pecification of Letters Patent.

I I i Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

dinarily, therefore, the slot is formed in the needle shank by means of a saw or like cutting tool forming a kerf extending completely through the shank. In carrying out my invention, however, I form, in the front of the shank a kerf which does not extend completely through said. shank as indicated Theob ect 0t mynnvention is to so construct a latch needle for knitting machines gral with the sidewalls of the slot and serv ing to .preventlateral deflection of said side walls by any pressure thereupon such as may be caused by the strain exerted upon the outer projecting portion of the latch, the rivet being thereby relieved from any strain which would loosen the same or cause its ends to project beyond the sides of the needle.

Instead of forming in the back of the slotted portion of the needle shank upper and lower saw kerfs such as shown at y in Fig. 1. I. may form a series of openings through the body of metal at the back of the slot, as i11- dicated at w in Fig. 3, so as to provide a plurality of bridges 5 connecting the side walls of the slot, these openings being, by preference, so located that one of the bridges will be directly in the rear of the pivoted end of be secured inlike manner, although, as the constructions there shown lend themselves to the cheap and ready production of integral bridges, the latter are much to be pre ferred.

I claim 1. A knitting machine latch needle having a latch-receiving slot extending through the Walls'of the slot and constituting a plvotfor the latch, and a bridge located reari Wardly of the latch also connecting the opposite side Walls of the slot.

2. A knitting machine latch needle havinga latch-receiving slotextending through the same, a latch, a rivetconnecting the side walls of theslot and constituting a pivot for thelatch, and a bridge connecting the opposite side walls of the slotand located directly in the rear of the pivot end of the latch;

i 3. A knitting machine latch needle having a latch-receiving slot extending through the same, a latch, a rivet connecting-the side walls of the slot and constituting a pivot for the latch, and a bridge located rearwardly of the latch alsoconnecting the opposite side Walls-of the slot and integral therewith. a

4.-A knitting machine latch needle having a latch-receiving slot extending through the same, a latch. a rivet connecting the side Walls of the slotand constituting'a pivot for the latch, and a bridge also connecting the opposite side Walls of the slot and integral. therewith, said bridge being located directly in the rear of the pivot end of the latch.

'5. A knitting machine latch needle having a latch-receiving slot extending through the same, a latch, a rivet connecting the side walls of the slot and constituting a pivot for the latch, 'and a plurality of bridges also connecting the opposite side Walls of the slot the same, a latch, 21 rivet connecting and disposed at intervals length of the same. i

6. A knitting machine latch needle haw ing a latclrreceiving. slot extending throu 'h t e side walls of the slot and constituting it throughout the ivot' for the latch, and a plurality of f bridges also connecting the op osite side walls of the slot, one of said bridges being directly behind the pivot end of the latch.

7. A knitting machine latch needle having a latch-receiving slotextending through the same, a latch, a rivet connecting the side walls of the slot and constitutin a pivot for the latch, and a plurality of bri ges also connecting the opposite side Walls of the slot and integral therewith, said brid es bein r disposed atintervals throughout t e length of the slot. 1 8. A knitting machine latch needle having a latch-receiving slotextending through V the same, a latch, a rivet connecting the side Walls of'the slot and constitutin a 'ivot for the latch, and a plurality ofri ges'also connecting the opposite side walls of the slot and integral therewith, one of said bridges being directly behind the pivot end of the latch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence 7 of two subscribing witnesses.

. RQBERTWV. SCOTT.

Vitnesses HAinLTom D. Ttnxnn, KATE A. BEADLE. 

